lcionline Chapter 321 is not just an informant, but also surveillance.
Chapter 321 is not just an informant, but also surveillance.
Beneath my palm, there was a soft and warm touch.
"Feel what?" he asked softly, a hint of confusion in his voice.
Chu Ruohan smiled slightly, her eyes filled with surprise and anticipation, "Feel it carefully."
Gu Junze held his breath and focused intently, quietly feeling the warmth beneath his palm.
At first, there was nothing unusual.
However, just as his patience was running out.
Suddenly, I felt a slight, yet incredibly clear, throbbing sensation in my palm.
It's like a little fish blowing bubbles in the water, or like a fledgling bird taking a gentle peck before hatching.
one more time.
Gu Junze's body froze instantly, and his previously calm eyes widened suddenly, filled with disbelief.
He lowered his head, looking incredulously at Chu Ruohan's abdomen, his voice trembling with a hint of surprise.
"This...this is..."
Seeing his surprised expression, Chu Ruohan's smile deepened.
She gently held Gu Junze's hand and affirmed, "It's the baby moving; it's fetal movement."
"I only felt it today. I was reading a book just now when I suddenly moved. I thought it was my imagination, but I didn't expect it to move several more times."
Gu Junze remained motionless in that position as if he had been frozen in place.
His palm was pressed tightly against Chu Ruohan's abdomen, as if afraid of missing any slight movement.
My breathing became a little rapid, and a strange, indescribable feeling welled up inside me.
It is the joy of becoming a father, the thrill of blood ties, and the anticipation of a better future.
He never imagined that such a small life could bring such a huge shock and emotion.
"It's really moving..."
He gently stroked Chu Ruohan's belly.
"Han'er, he... he's responding to me."
Looking at his childlike appearance, Chu Ruohan reached out and gently grasped Gu Junze's hand, which was resting on his abdomen, and intertwined their fingers.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating the two figures embracing each other...
"Who's lurking around like that? What are they doing?"
It was Song Ruyan's voice.
Chu Ruohan and Gu Junze paused simultaneously, exchanged a glance, and both saw the helplessness of being interrupted, as well as a hint of wariness, in each other's eyes.
Gu Junze released his arms from her and helped her to her feet.
"Go out and see."
The two straightened their clothes and opened the door.
Song Ruyan stood with her hands on her hips, blocking the way of an old woman with gray hair dressed in coarse cloth.
The old woman had her head down, her body hunched over, and she looked terrified and uneasy.
"Young Madam, General."
"I just came out to get some water and I saw this old woman peeking around outside our courtyard wall, acting very suspiciously!"
The woman known as Granny Kong quickly raised her head, her face full of wrinkles, and hurriedly waved her hands.
"It's a misunderstanding, young lady, you've misunderstood!"
"This old servant didn't mean it, it's just... I couldn't sleep at night, so I came out for a walk. I saw the lights were still on here, so... I took a second look. I had absolutely no ill intentions!"
Her voice was a little hoarse, her tone was humble, and her eyes were somewhat uncertain.
Chu Ruohan calmly looked at Granny Kong and did not speak immediately.
This residence was bestowed upon us by the emperor.
It was originally the residence of a powerful nobleman from the previous dynasty, but was later confiscated by the government.
The emperor bestowed the gift upon Gu Junze, saying that he had left behind some of the "old-fashioned" staff in his newly established residence because of the shortage of manpower.
Not only that, but they also transferred several palace servants over, ostensibly to "help out".
Chu Ruohan and Gu Junze both knew exactly what was going on.
Leaving the elderly behind is a way to keep watch.
They even sent palace maids to keep watch.
This old woman, Kong, was one of the elderly people who "stayed behind".
She usually seems quite well-behaved, but her behavior today is unusual.
Chu Ruohan lowered the thoughtful look in her eyes and softened her tone.
"It's Granny Kong. It's late and chilly outside. You should go back and rest early."
She didn't press the matter or reprimand her; she simply brushed it off lightly.
"Yes...yes, thank you for your consideration, young mistress."
Grandma Kong felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She nodded and bowed repeatedly, a hint of relief flashing quickly in her cloudy eyes. She turned and hurried away.
Watching Granny Kong's figure disappear around the corner, Song Ruyan felt somewhat unwilling.
"Young Madam, are we just going to let her go like that? The way she acted just now, it was clearly..."
"Alright, Ruyan."
Chu Ruohan interrupted her, her tone remaining calm.
"Perhaps what she said is true, and we are just overthinking it."
Gu Junze stood to the side, his brows furrowed slightly. He had clearly noticed something was wrong, but he chose to trust Chu Ruohan's handling of the situation.
Back in the room, he dismissed the servants, leaving only Yuling to attend to him.
Yu Ling couldn't help but worry.
“Young Madam, these people… are always a potential threat.”
"It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. They were sent by the Emperor, so we can't drive them away or scold them. If we keep them in the mansion, something bad will happen sooner or later."
Gu Junze's face darkened, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"We'll find an excuse to get rid of them all tomorrow."
Chu Ruohan gently shook her head.
"No."
“Send them all away. If we make too much noise, the palace will definitely notice.”
"At that time, not only will it arouse unnecessary suspicion, but it may also send even more troublesome people."
She looked at Gu Junze, her eyes clear and firm.
"We can't do that."
Gu Junze frowned: "Then what should we do?"
Chu Ruohan pondered for a moment, and had already made up her mind.
"Tomorrow, I will go back to the Chu family."
“I’m quite pregnant now. Although the elders in my household and the people from the palace take good care of me, I still feel that they are not as caring as my own family. I want to transfer some of the people I’m used to from my maternal family to take care of me.”
"This reason is reasonable, and the palace can't really say anything about it."
"Once the Chu family arrives, have them keep a close eye on them secretly."
"There's no need to alert them. Just observe their words and actions carefully to see who contacts the outside world and who asks questions they shouldn't."
"If anything unusual is found, find another excuse and quietly send one or two away."
"In this way, we can gradually remove these nails without attracting too much attention."
As Gu Junze listened to her plan, the coldness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by approval and a touch of heartache.
He took her hand and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
Chu Ruohan grasped his hand in return and smiled slightly: "It's not hard work for us and for the children."
Early next morning
Gu Junze was already a Grand General personally appointed by the Emperor, but he could not be exempted from the morning court session.
At the pilgrimage temple.
The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.
The emperor verbally commended Gu Junze for his meritorious service in pacifying the border, and the reward was quite generous.
However, his words always carried a subtle hint of criticism and dissatisfaction.
In particular, when the terms discussed privately between Gu Junze and Duan Qingye were mentioned, the emperor neither explicitly agreed nor directly opposed them.
They just gave vague answers and played coy.